Lloyd Thomas

LLOYD DEAN THOMAS Lloyd Dean Thomas, age 88, retired farmer and rancher, passed away peacefully at his home north of Copan, Ok on Monday, August 15, 2011. Lloyd was born on March 17, 1923 at his Thomas grandparents family home north of Copan. He attended elementary school at Caney, Kansas and Owen School, north of Copan. He graduated from Copan High School in 1941, then attended Jenkins Business College in Bartlesville, Ok, graduating with a degree in General Business. Lloyd worked at Reda Pump in Bartlesville prior to being drafted by the U.S. Army during World War II and began active service January 28, 1943. He proudly served his country as a clerktypist for the Medical Corps, 127th General Hospital in the European Theater of Operations for 26 months, preparing military reports and correspondence for families of fallen soldiers. As a U.S. Army Corporal, Lloyd was authorized to wear two Battle Stars. He was honorably discharged from active service on December 27, 1945, and returned to the family farm to farm and ranch on a full time basis, primarily raising Herford cattle and wheat. During his early years of farming, he used a horse and plow and as technology advanced he kept pace producing grain and hay for many years, as well as running a cowcalf operation. On January 27, 1948 Lloyd married Harriett Arlene Bellmyer in a union lasting over 63 years, during which time they worked side by side in the family operation and they were blessed with four children. Lloyd served for many years as clerk on the Cotton Valley School Board. In addition, he was a long time member of the Caney, Kansas Veterans of Foreign War. He loved nature and the outdoors, everything from hunting dogs to wild turkeys. He was an avid hunter of deer, quail and pheasants and he enjoyed fishing and playing cards with his special buddies. But most important to him was his large family and close friends. Lloyd is survived by his wife of 63 years, Harriett Bellmyer Thomas, four children, son, Joe Thomas and wife Annette of Dewey, OK daughter Joyce Martin of Stillwater, OK daughter Janice DeVelasco and husband Ruben of Sugar Land, TX and son, Jon Thomas and wife Cherri of Derby, KS as well as twelve grandchildren, Juston Martin, of Stillwater, OK Kellie Thomas Bowen and husband Terry, of Derby, KS Jaret Martin, of Kampala, Uganda Sara Thomas and husband Chase of Dewey, OK Janae Martin, of Stillwater, OK Troy Thomas, of Dewey, OK Jason Martin, of Stillwater, OK Deric Thomas of Owasso, OK Preston DeVelasco of Sugar Land, TX Logan Thomas of Derby, KS Eric DeVelasco, of Sugar Land, TX and Kevin Thomas of Derby, KS three great grandchildren, Austin Bowen, Samantha Bowen, and Levi Bowen of Derby, KS three sisters Carol Warden and husband Bob, Kathleen Pruett, and Lois Anderson all of Copan, OK one aunt Nina Fields and husband Clyde of Caney, KS and many nieces and nephews. Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, Roy F. Thomas and Mary Ethel Thomas, sister, Norma Lee Defenbaugh, and soninlaw, Fred Martin. Sistersinlaws, Betty Bellmyer, Bonnie Bellmyer, Evelyn Bellmyer, Mary Bellmyer, Sandy Bellmyer, and Sybil Bellmyer. Brothersinlaws, Eugene Bellmyer, Russell Bellmyer, Herbert Defenbaugh, Joe Pruett, and Douglas Anderson. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 20, 2011 at the Copan United Methodist Church with interment at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Caney, Kansas under the direction of the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas. Visitation hours will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, August 19, 2011 with the family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Potts Chapel in Caney, Kansas. The family has suggested memorials to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association and contributions may be left at the Potts Chapel, 107 N. State, Caney, Kansas 67333.